This course explores the sedimentology of paleontology, focusing on the accumulation of highly fossiliferous deposits. By examining various depositional settings and factors affecting fossil preservation, learners will understand how fossils accumulate within different environments. The course covers topics such as macrofossil abundance, depositional settings from fluvial to marine, taphonomy, and interpreting bone beds. The teaching method includes case studies, pattern recognition, and analyzing factors like fecundity, winnowing, and deposition rates. This course is designed for individuals interested in paleontology, geology, or fossil preservation.
The Sedimentology of Palaeontology - How to Accumulate Highly Fossiliferous Deposits
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology via YouTube
Overview
Syllabus
Intro
The Sedimentology of Palaeontology: how to accumulate highly fossiliferous deposits
Introduction
A note on collecting macrofossils
Pattern recognition really works
What rock type?
The best outcrops for fossil hunting
The eternal question-what rate?
Terrestrial versus Marine
Using fossils as sedimentation gauges
Macrofossil abundance
Feast and famine
Lower energy fluvial environments 1
Classic channel lagi winnowing
High energy fluvial environments
Dataset: Princess South
Aeolian
Lacustrine
Estuarine settings
Significant surfaces at the coast
Shallow marine carbonates
Atlas Medusa
Open marine settings
Open marine case study: Sandakan Formation
Examples of rich fossil beds proximal environments
Examples of rich fossil beds: distal environments
Most likely environments with abundant fossil beds
Concentrating agents across environments
What is taphonomy?
Slopes and currents - outside taphonomic agents
The Snyder Quarry
Howe Quarry, Wyoming
Monospecific bone beds of DPP, Alberta
Interpretation of bone beds
Conclusions
Taught by
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
